Senior Capital Project Engineer

at Winland Foods Inc in Oak Brook, Illinois, United States Job Description Winland is investing in modern, reliable manufacturing systems to support growth, food safety, operational excellence, and cost competitiveness across its manufacturing network. The Senior Capital Project Engineer will lead and execute capital improvement projects across multiple food manufacturing facilities. This role is responsible for managing projects from concept through startup, ensuring safe execution, on-time delivery, budget control, and long-term operational success. This role is ideal for an engineer who enjoys solving plant problems, managing projects, working directly with the operations teams, and delivering practical improvements in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment.

Employee Type:

Full time

Location:

US Works from

Home Job Type:

Engineering Job Posting Title:

Senior Capital Project Engineer Job Description:

Schedule:

Monday-Friday with flexibility as needed

Work Location:

Hybrid remote role with 50%-60% travel time

Benefits:

Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k) with match, STD / LTD /AD&D/Life, HSA , FSA , EAP , Hospital indemnity, Accident Insurance, Identity and Fraud Protection Plan, Legal, and Critical Illness. Salary, based on experience and other qualifications: $74k to $124k Annually with additional bonus potential

Roles & Responsibilities:

Capital Project Execution & Management + Lead capital projects ($250K - $5M) ranging from equipment upgrades to line expansions, utility improvements, packaging enhancements, and infrastructure improvements. + Manage projects from concept development, scope definition, estimating, and approval through installation, startup, and closeout. + Coordinate internal resources, contractors, vendors, and plant personnel to ensure successful execution. + Develop and maintain project schedules, milestones, budgets, and risk mitigation plans. + Track project budgets, invoices, timelines, and spend + Prepare capital requests (CEAs) along with ROI justifications + Deliver projects within approved budgets Manufacturing & Plant Support + Work with operations, maintenance, QA, sanitation, and safety teams to identify improvement opportunities + Troubleshoot equipment/process bottlenecks + Support reliability and maintenance initiatives + Improve line efficiency and uptime + Ensure projects comply with food safety, sanitary design, GMP , OSHA , environmental, and company standards Technical & Continuous Improvement Execution + Coordinate and participate in equipment

FAT / SAT

, installation, startup, and commissioning + Ensure projects meet food safety, sanitary design, OSHA , and plant standards + Support automation upgrades and controls integration with internal/external resources + Develop startup plans, punch lists, operator training plans, and turnover documentation + Apply Lean / Six Sigma / root cause problem solving methods + Improve labor efficiency, waste reduction, OEE , and throughput What Success Looks Like + Projects completed safely, on time, and within budget + Successful startups with minimal downtime + Measurable improvements in capacity, efficiency, quality, or reliability + Strong working relationships with plant teams + Sustainable solutions that improve operations long term

Qualifications & Experience:

Required Experience + Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, Industrial, or related Engineering discipline + 3+ years of engineering, manufacturing, or project management experience + Experience managing capital projects in manufacturing environments + Strong project management, organization, and communication skills + Capital project planning and execution + Budgeting and cost control Preferred Experience + Experience in food, beverage, consumer packaged goods, pharmaceutical, or packaging manufacturing + Knowledge of sanitary design principles + Experience with packaging systems, process equipment, conveyors, utilities, or material handling systems + Familiarity with automation, PLC controls, or industrial networking + Contractor and vendor management + Equipment installation and startup + Process improvement and troubleshooting + AutoCAD / layout review + Microsoft Project / Excel / SAP familiarity Leadership Style - Model Winland Values + Calm and organized under changing priorities + Collaborative with plant and corporate teams + Act with integrity and courage when making decisions + Listen to operators and engineers closest to the work + Hold yourself and others accountable to commitments + Practical, hands-on problem solver with a strong sense of project ownership + Strengthen collaboration between functional groups - Operations, IT, R D, Safety, Logistics, Planning Why Join Winland Foods + High-impact leadership role with direct influence on enterprise transformation. + Opportunity to shape engineering strategy and build a best-in-class technical organization. + A culture committed to career development, collaboration, and innovation. + Competitive compensation, benefits, and growth opportunities. Play a critical role in shaping the future of Winland Foods-where your ideas, expertise, and leadership will help drive breakthrough performance.

EEO Statement:

Winland Foods seeks to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool, and as a global company we believe our success is enhanced by fostering equity and inclusion in the workplace. Therefore, Winland Foods is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military or veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. About Us At Winland Foods, we're passionate about creating exceptional food experiences that bring people together. We are a dynamic and growing company specializing in meal preparation products-from pasta and sauces to plant-based proteins and more. Our portfolio includes beloved consumer brands and custom private-label solutions for retail and foodservice channels. Why Work With Us? We believe in being exceptional from the land to the table .

That means:

+ Commitment to

Quality:

We consistently exceed industry standards across our value chain. +

Sustainability & Responsibility:

We prioritize environmental stewardship and make a positive impact on the world around us. +

People First:

The safety, well-being, and growth of our employees are at the heart of everything we do. Our Culture We're a team of food enthusiasts who value collaboration, innovation, and integrity. At Winland Foods, you'll find an environment where your ideas matter, your contributions are recognized, and your career can thrive. Explore Opportunities At Winland Foods, you'll find opportunities across operations, supply chain, marketing, and product development-roles where your work truly makes an impact. By joining our team, you become part of a forward-thinking organization that values passion, collaboration, and shared success with our customers. Together, we're shaping the future of food. To All Recruitment Agencies Winland Foods does not accept unsolicited agency resumes/CVs. Please do not forward resumes/CVs to Winland Foods employees, or any company location(s). Winland Foods is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/CVs. To view full details and how to apply, please login or create a Job Seeker account